Current collector



June 10, 1947. c. H. SAITER 2,422,132

CURRENT COLLECTOR Filed July 5, 1945 Y .CHHELES H. San-.52

M HM E y/Z 4% HTTORNE/S Patented June 10, 1947 CURRENT COLLECTOR Charles H. Saiter, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to The Cleveland Crane & Engineering gllilrgipany, Wickliffe, hio, a corporation of Application July 3, 1945, Serial No. 602,987

4 Claims. (01. 191-45) The present invention relates to current collectors for electrical distribution systems of the trolley type and, more particularly, to a current collector especially adapted for use with overhead material handling apparatus, such as, overhead traveling cranes, etc.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of-a novel and. improved current collector for an electrical distribution system of the trolley type so constructed and arranged that the contact member thereof will readily follow the trolley conductor although the trolley conductor is very close to the trolley or carrier of which the current collector is a part.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the present specification, including a description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings forming a part thereof, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view approximately on the line l-l of Fig. 2 of an electrical distribution system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view approximately on the line 2--.2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In certain respects, the current collector of the present invention may be considered an improvement-over the current collector shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,358,116 and, although the invention is susceptible of being variously embodied and employed, it is herein shown and described as embodied in a current collector of an electrical distribution system for cranes similar to that shown in said patent. Only those parts of the crane and distribution system which are necessary to a complete understanding of the invention are herein shown and described in detail. For a more complete description of the crane and distribution system, reference is made to the aforesaid patent.

An overhead crane of the character referred to comprises a bridge movable along a crane runway by a reversible electric motor, commonly called the bridge motor, and a trolley movable along the bridge by a reversible electric motor, commonly called the trolley motor. The trolley includes suitable hoist mechanism including a cable drum driven by a reversible electric hoist motor. The actuation of the electric mo- 2 tors is controlled from a control cage suspended from the bridge, the electric circuits between the motors on the trolley and the control mechanism being completed through trolley conductors carried by the bridge and current collectors carried by the trolley. The number of pairs of trolley conductors and current collectors employed will depend upon the number and type of motors, etc., to be controlled. I

Referring to the drawings wherein only one trolley conductor and current collector is shown, the trolley conductor is designated generally by the reference character A and comprises a metal bar or rod-like member ID of uniform cross-section throughout its length enclosed within an insulating covering ll preferably made of rubber cemented or otherwise secured to the member ID. The underside of the member H] has a substantially semi-circular groove or contact surface adapted to be engaged by the contactor member proper, in the present instance the collector wheels l2, of the current collector assembly, designated generally by the reference character B. The insulating covering H is inverted U-shaped in cross-section and the free ends thereof project downwardly a considerable distance below the contact surface of the conductor bar so as to make it practically impossible for a workman to accidentally come in contact with the electrically charged portion of the trolley conductor.

The trolley conductor A is carried by a part [5 of the bridge to which it is connected by a plurality of spaced, two-part connectors C, the right-hand ends of which, as viewed in th drawings, are attached to the member or members 15 in any suitable manner; The free ends of the connectors C are so formed that they engage around the upper part of the trolley conductor A and hold the same by frictionwhile leaving the lower side of the trolley conductor open.

The aligned contact Wheels 12 of the collector assembly B are carried by short shafts l6 rotatably supported in a metal bracket member I! located within a contactor housing I8, which housing is made of insulating material. The contactor housing It is detachably connected to an L-shaped bracket 20 by a T-slot in the lefthand side thereof, as viewed'in Figs. 1 and 2, within which an enlarged portion of the vertical side of the bracket engages. The upper end of the bracket 29 is fixed to a pin 2! rotatably supported in a sleeve 22 pivotally connected by pins 23, 24 to the lower ends of H-shaped links 25, 26, respectively. The bracket 20 is welded to the right-hand end of the pin 2| and the pin is held in assembled relation with the sleeve 22 by the bracket 20 and a cotter pin 21 extending through a a suitable hole in the left-hand end of the pin, as viewed in the drawings. The pins 23, 24 project through apertures adjacent to opposite ends of .the sleeve 12 ,and through apertures in the lower ends :of the link members 225, '25. As shown, brass washers are interposed'between the sleeve 22 and the links 25, 26 and the pins 2.3;, 24 are retained assembled with the link 'members by suitable cotter pins.

The upper ends of the links 25, 2.6 are pivotally connected to a onepiece basez'member Iii! comprising a generally horizontalgpaiit 3| landca part 32 inclined downwardly at an angle of 4'5 from the part 3|. The links 25, 26 are connected to the part 3| of the base member by pins 33, 34 extending through suitable aperturesin the upper ends of the links 25, 26 and 'the'base ,member 30. In order fto facilitate free moveintent of the link members, brass washers or the "like are interposedfbetween *the link "members and the base member 313. The 'pins 33, are maintained assenibled *with respect to the link members 25, '26 and "the member 30 by suitable cotter pins. The horizontal part 311 'Offthe base member has portions 35, 36 thereof rout away to receive therear upper "ends :of the H shaped links 25, 26. The construction tis'suoh that t he conta'ctor housing I8 and, in the contactor members proper are supported by the pin -2i for :pivotal movement :a-bout an axis making a right angle with the length *of the trolley conductor, and the axes about -wliich'--the link *membersi. 5, 23 pivot :are paralie'l with the trolley 'con'ductor.

As previousily stated and as clearly shown *in "Fig. '3, the base -merriber 30 "has, in addition to the generally horizontal portion 31 to which the link members '25, "26 are 'pivotal-ly connected, a portion 32 projecting at an angle to the-portion 3|. The free endofthe partta of-the=base--mem- "her is in the form of *a boss having an aperture fthere'through through the medium of which the base member '30 is pivotafly supported n the outer end of ta basebolt or pin #49 fixedly secured to -a-part H of the 'cranetroll'ey.

The righfihand "end of the base pin 30, as viewed in Fig. 1 of reduced diameter anti the base member 30 "is rotatably positioned thereon intermediate a shoulder formed by the reduction in diameter *and a washer 42 interposed between the outer end of the base member '30 and the 'head'of a maehhie screw l-3 threaded into-a-su'ih ably tapped aperture in the outer end of the 'base 'pin *40. 7 The base member 35 is continueuSIy-urged in -a direction to'engage'the contact wheels l 2 with the *tro'lley conductor, that '--is,-in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, *by a coil 'spring M on the base 32in H) and located in a cut-out portion '45 of the part 32 of the base member. -Gne end of =the'spring 44 engages the underside of "the base member '31! and the other end thereof engages a 'spring abutment -pin 46 alsofixedlysecured to -'the part dl of the trolley. "The base pin MI andthe abutment pin #6 may be lixed to the ;part ill of the trolley "in any suitable manner. As shown, the left-hand ends cf {the pins are of reduced diameter and -project through suitably aligned apertures in -a spacer member #1 and'the part-M and aresecurely fixed t'o'thepart 4-1 by nuts 18,49 'threadedon the rear ends thereof. 7 v

The operation of the collector will be apparent :from'theforegoingdescription. Suffice it he say that asthe 'hoisttrolley of the crane moves along 4 t the crane bridge, the contactor wheels l2 will readily follow the trolley conductor. The contactor housing IB is free to move horizontally to 7 follow any horizontal irregularities in the trolley conductor, etc., without varying the angularity of the axes of the wheels [2 with respect to the :trolley corr'ductor because of the pivoted'ilink cons'truction which, in effect, is a parallel motion mechanism and is free to move vertically to follow vertical irregularities in the trolley conduct-onmtc because of the pivotal connection between the base 36 and the base pin 43. The housing 435s also "free 'to rotate about the axis of "thejpin 2], thus :both contactor wheels l2 will always be in contact with the trolley conductor. In the event a carbon brush-type contactor memrberiis used-tin-place of the contactor wheels, a

langelcontact area is assured.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of =the invention, it will be apparent that the objects *heretofore enumerated and others have been --accomplished and that there has been provided a :novel andimproved "current collector which is simple and rugged -'construction, reliable in operation,-and-so devisei1 that the contactor member proper will readily follow the trolleyconductor evenlthou'gh the current collector is supported :on or carried by a member located close to the trolley :conduotor. "While the preferred embodiment of the invention has' 'been herein illustrated and described' in considerable etail, I do not Avish to The llimited to the particular construction shown and it is the intention to hereby oover all adaptati'onsgmodifications and uses thereoi which-come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and withinthe spiritanqscorie of ,the'appended' claims.

Having thus described 'my invention, what I claim is: e l

1. In aa'device of the ,characterlreferred to, the combination ofaffirst member-adapted -to carry .a contactor and maintaining thesamein. engagement with ;a trolley conductor, a second member, means ,for supporting said first member from said second memberfor pivotal movement about lan-axisextending transversely of the trolley .e'onductor, a third member parallel motionfmechalnism supporting said second member 'fromsaidthirdmember for movement lengthwise of the first-named axis, means forsupporting saifd'third member for rotation about an axis "parallel with said first-mentioned axis, and :resilient means "for continuously .urging said third member about said last-mentioned axis and in 'a direction to engage the contactor with the trolley conductor.

2,. 'In adevi'ceof the character 'referred'to, the combination of a first member "adapted to carry a contactor andimaintaining'the same in engage- .ment with atrolley conductor, a second member, means ,for supporting .said first membe from said ,second member for pivotal movement about an axis (extending transversely of the trolley conduotor, a ithirdfmember, parallel 2111013101?! mechanism comprising two spaeedlinks pivotallyconnected to said second memloenand to said rthird member for movement about :axes extending lengthwise of the trolley =conductor lfol supporting :said .second member from :said third unember for movement lengthwise ofr'the ifrst-inamed axis, means for supporting JSfiid third member 'f or rotation .aboutian-iaxis parallelwithssaid firstmentioned :axis :.and offset to :one side 'of said parallel Emotion mechanism, and resilient means for continuously urging said third member about said last-mentioned axis and in a direction to engage the contactor with the trolley conductor.

3. In a device of the character referred to, the combination of a contactor member adapted to engage and travel along a trolley conductor, a sleeve member, means for rotatably supporting said contactor member from said sleeve member for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the trolley conductor, a base member, parallel motion mechanism supporting said sleeve member from said base member for lengthwise movement, means for supporting said base member for rotation about an axis parallel with said first-mentioned axis, and resilient mean for continuously urging said base member about said last-mentioned axis in a direction to engage said contactor member with the trolley conductor.

4. In a device of the character referred to, the combination of a contactor member adapted to engage and travel along a trolley conductor, a sleeve member, means for rotatably supporting said contactor member in said sleeve member for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the trolley conductor, a base member, parallel motion mechanism comprising two spaced links pivotally connected to said sleeve member and to said base member for movement about axes extending lengthwise of the trolley conductor for supporting said sleeve member from said base member for lengthwise movement, means for supporting said base member for rotation about an axis parallel with said first-mentioned axis and offset to one side of said parallel motion mechanism, and resilient means for continuously urging said base member about said last-mentioned axis in a direction to engage said contactor member with the trolley conductor.

' CHARLES H. SAITER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,692,893 Gutzat Nov. 2'7, 1928 2,358,116 Wehr Sept. 12, 1944 

